Coming from a dysfunctional family, I connected with
twelve-year-old Jim, who had an alcoholic father and a depressed, suicidal
mother.
One day, he walked into a magic shop in a local strip mall, where Ruth,
the owner’s mother, taught him the “magic” of meditation that changed his life.
In this remarkable book that combines neuroscience insights with engaging
narrative, I felt I knew Jim as I, too, learned Ruth’s lessons of mindfulness,
meditation, and compassion that would change my life as well.
I loved the book
so much that I sent a copy to my friend Pat, who also began meditating. We are both
grateful for this book and our meditative practice that brings greater hope to
our lives.
The award-winning New York Times bestseller that inspired BTS's K-pop song 'Magic Shop'.
The day that 12-year-old James Doty walked in to his local magic shop is the day that changed his life.
Once the neglected son of an alcoholic father and a mother with chronic depression, he has gone on to become a leading neurosurgeon, based at Stanford University. He credits Ruth for this incredible turnaround: the remarkable woman he met at the Cactus Rabbit Magic Shop, who devoted the summer to transforming his mind and opening his heart.
In this uplifting memoir, Jim explains the visualisation techniques Ruth…
I always wondered, “What is this feeling of Oneness I find in
nature?” Dacher Keltner’s book has answered my question—Awe.
This book
blends his scientific research with his personal experience of awe. After all
the losses of the Covid years, experiencing awe brings me hope, helps me feel
connected to something greater than myself. Recalling the times I’d explored
the California forests with my dear husband, who passed away during Covid, I
resonated with Keltner’s discussion of exploring nature with his brother, who
recently passed away.
He says he still feels his brother’s presence in the
natural world they shared, and that we can still be connected to our loving companions
with a sense of awe and wonder. I’m deeply grateful for the gift of awe.
"Read this book to connect with your highest self.” —Susan Cain, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Bittersweet and Quiet
“We need more awe in our lives, and Dacher Keltner has written the definitive book on where to find it.” —Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again
“Awe is awesome in both senses: a superb analysis of an emotion that is strongly felt but poorly understood, with a showcase of examples that remind us of what is worthy of our awe.” —Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and author of…
As
I’ve been struggling to understand the political polarization and rising
authoritarianism in our world, DisConnected
really opened my eyes. My father was an Air Force pilot, so I moved every
year or two while growing up.
Taylor says that children of military families often
feel disconnected and anxious. But it’s not just me. Major changes from
increased mobility, online shopping, remote work, social media, and the Covid
pandemic have eroded our sense of community. Disconnected and anxious, we’re
more vulnerable to conspiracy theories and authoritarian demagogues, those severely
disconnected people who lack empathy and seek to control us. But Taylor offers
hope, encouraging each of us to cultivate connection.
After reading this book,
I’ve been reaching out to cultivate more connection in my own life.
DisConnected offers a new vision of human nature and a new understanding of human behaviour and social problems. Connection is the most essential human trait - it determines our behaviour and our level of well-being. Cruelty is the result of a sense of disconnection, while "goodness" stems from connection. Unfortunately, the most disconnected people gravitate to positions of power, which leads to "pathocracy," the most common form of government during the 20th century. Disconnected societies are patriarchal, hierarchical and warlike. Connected societies are egalitarian, democratic and peaceful. We can measure both social progress and personal development in terms of how…
As we face the major challenges in today’s complex world, The Tao of Inner Peace can help us respond with greater hope, empowerment, and peace of mind. Offering the timeless principles of the Tao Te Ching supported by contemporary examples and personal exercises, this classic guide shows readers how to:
Recover their personal balance; heal body, mind, and spirit; face their fears with greater wisdom and courage; resolve conflicts with the Tao’s vision of Oneness; see life as a larger process of dynamic growth; find enduring inspiration in the cycles of nature.
